#mathematicaltools

The Albuquerque Journal, 2012

Math teachers need a collection of online math tools to help students learn. How can you find these tools and which ones would you recommend? Provide of summary of how to best search for tools and a list of tools you found. 

In order to most effectively search for appropriate math tools, it is first important to be familiar and adept at using a search engine. We each personally use google.ca, however this really just personal preference - use whichever search engine you are most comfortable with and find most useful.

Effective keywords are crucial, so think about keywords pertaining to the math topic, the grade, or other relevant keywords. For example, if I were looking for a tool specifically to assist with teaching the concept of perimeter in Grade 2, I might Google 'Grade 2', 'perimeter', 'math', 'tool', and 'measurement'. Obviously, it is easier to find mathematical tools and resources when you know what kind of tools you're looking for, so it is good to have an idea first. 

If you are looking for a broader range of math tools, it would be useful to start with the grade, and search keywords such as 'Grade 2', 'math', 'tools', 'games', 'teacher', 'resources', and 'educational'. By doing this, a variety of useful websites will appear towards the top of the search results, and it is always good to consider only the results on the first few pages, as these will likely be most relevant to your search. Examples include:

https://www.mathplayground.com/

https://www.khanacademy.org/math

http://www.coolmath-games.com/

http://www.primarygames.com/math.php

https://www.mathgames.com/

https://www.yummymath.com/

http://www.multiplication.com/

https://jumpmath.org/jump/en/teachers_guides_intro

http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/

http://illuminations.nctm.org/Lessons-Activities.aspx

It is also a good idea to consider resources on specific websites. Many organizations and institutions have compiled lists of educational resources for these exact instances. A good place to start, for example, is edugains.ca, which has a directory of math resources approved by the Ministry of Education. This is especially useful as use of these resources are advocated for by the Ministry and geared towards the Ontario Mathematics Curriculum. Other examples include:

https://www.weareteachers.com/the-big-list-of-the-best-websites-for-teaching-math/

http://ontariomathedresources.ca/

Reference: